Om/One is a Really Cool Bluetooth Speaker that Levitates

There are many Bluetooth speakers out there, but few of them will make such an impression as the new Om/One. We’re talking about a Bluetooth speaker that can levitate. This speaker comes in the form of a compact sphere and can be used with or without its magnetic base, which requires an AC adapter. It comes with an integrated battery that provides up to 15 hours of continuous play and there’s also a microphone on board which lets you use the OM/One as a speakerphone. Right now, the OM/One is in the crowdfunding status and it’s gathering money through its own website, without resorting to specialized websites such as Kickstarer or IndieGoGo. The folks from Engadget had a chance to try out a prototype and here’s what they said:

Sound quality was fine — not fantastic, but on par with other compact Bluetooth speakers. You can improve the experience by adding a second OM/One, which pairs with the first to produce stereo audio. The levitating effect is interesting to look at, but it also reportedly helps produce better audio with a lower-power driver, since nearby objects won’t absorb sound.

The speaker is employing the idea of magnetic levitation, thus floating about an inch off its base, letting the user to spin it around in mid-air while listening to the audio. The speaker has a south pole that is facing upward, toward the ball. The ball contains a Neo magnet, and its south pole is facing downward. Thus, an electromagnetic field is created and the weight of the ball and gravity allow the ball to float.

David DeVillez, the co-founder and CEO of Om Audio, said the following:

“The fact that it levitates gives us an angle on some audio techniques that make the speaker a lot better. The unit has a 3-watt RMS amplifier inside of it, and it can produce a 110dB output, where competitive products like the Jambox or the ] Pill… they’re using 9 to 10 watts to get 110dB.

“So because the speaker is levitating it’s not syncing to any kind of surface, so it doesn’t have any kind of low-end loss because the speaker is levitating it’s not syncing to any kind of surface, so it doesn’t have any kind of low-end loss … it’s all coming through the driver, which means we can get more audio output with less amplifier power.”

The speaker is said to offer up to 15 hours of continuous play. OM/One is available for pre-order in black, white or “disco ball” on OM’s site for $179, with an expected shipping time in December.